Stampin' UP!

Last night my friend and I hosted a stamp party here at my house. We have been planning it for months and we had such a great time. Many friends came and Addie planned such great projects for us.



Rachel made great dip and salsa and we just had a good time. Here is my cookie recipe for anyone who is interested..

Molasses Cookies

3/4 cup shortening (I have started using 3/4 cup canola oil and it works just as well)
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp ginger

Mix everything, chill in refrigerator for a couple of hours. Roll into balls and roll balls in white sugar. Place on cookie sheet (don't flatten) and bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. I like to bake mine for eight and they stay soft. Since they are better warm sometimes I make a batch and only bake a few at a time over a period of three or four days. Also, when I do bake a bunch I stick them in the freezer. Each morning I pull one out and stick it in Liz's lunch and it is thawed and soft by the time she eats.

Thanks to anyone who came last night and also to Brian, who is such a good sport when it comes to me and stamping.

Dream, Believe, Dare, Do

Here are the promised pics from the kids' school program. It was all based on a neat quotation from Walt Disney about challenging yourself and trying new things. Nathan and the kindergartners sang "When You wish Upon a Star" and Liz and her class sang about Christopher Columbus, the Admiral of the sea. The entire school sang a song called "Believe in Yourself" and we have heard it so much lately that Michael has started singing right along. As far as programs go it was pretty good, and I will admit that I became a bit lachrymose when I heard/saw my kids sing. For anyone who is interested we do have it on video!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I know it has been a week since Valentine's Day, but the holiday is still causing excitement at our house. Liz and Nathan are still sorting and trading Valentines. At times they even share with Megan and Michael. Who new that MEg would be such a Spidermand fan! They would wear their red shirts/sweaters from Grandma Chantry everyday if I let them. They were so thrilled to celebrate this holiday in red! Thanks Grandma.

Jen is getting over being sick and Brian headed to Boston for a couple of days. The kids are loving school and life in general. It has seemed like a crazy week.

Double Good Day!

We knew that we didn't have school or work today because of Martin Luther King Day, but we didn't know we would wake up to at least four inches of new soft snow! We have a standing invitation from our friends who have a great snow hill and so we went out this morning and went sledding. The kids had a great time and Dad joined right in teh sledding and snow ball fighting. Mom and her friend Carrie took pictures. MEgan loved the sled, the snowballs and everything selse. Liz and nathan went up and down the hill countless times and Michael just enjoyed it all, even when someon slid into him and he landed on top of them. All he could say was, "Did you see that? That was cool!" All in all it was a great morning and everyone is enjoying a great nap.

Snow! Snow! Snow!

With new snow pants for Liz and nathan and seven fresh inches of snow this week it was time to go out and play! The kids had a ball. They stayed warm and dry despite their "falling" into the snow, running in the snow, throwing snow up into the air and best of all making a hill out of snow. IT was "huge" when they described it, but it was probably about eighteen inches. Megan was so cute. I thought she would stand around, but she joined right in. She tromped through the snow with grins and giggles. At one point she fell prtty much flat on her tummy and I thought she would be done, but after three failed attempts to stand up she succeeded and was just as thrilled about it all!

A sleigh ride

Dad and the kids went on a sleigh ride with Grandma and Grandpa Chantry (Mom was sick). Everyone had a ball. Nathan loved watching the elk come eat right off the sleigh, and everyone enjoyed seeing puppies afterwards.

It's Christmas Time

We are all excited for Christmas. The kids had their last day of school today, so the next few days get to be all about Christmas fun. We will have a party with their friends tomorrow; Very low key, more like a fancy playdate. It is just us and one family with three kids. The mom and I thought it would be a great way to spend the morning after school was done! Sunday is a party with Grandma Houghton, then we hope to visit Jen's Grandma and grandpa Call on Monday morning to say hello and "Merry Christmas!"

Jen can't wait until monday evening. Dinner, the Christmas story, and the Poalr Express have become our Christmas Eve traditions and we are all looking forward to it.

Have a wonderful weekend!

These pictures are from our trip to Temple Square in early December.